Proud Executive Sponsor of the LaingBuisson Private Healthcare Summit 2025
On 15th May, LaingBuisson hosted its annual Private Healthcare Summit held in London, where we proudly participated as an Executive Sponsor.
This year’s event was held at The Minster Building, owned by Cavendish Venues, providing the opportunity for those within the Private Healthcare sector to interact with each other and provide an update on the Healthcare world.
Private Healthcare in 2025: Growth, Demand, and Shifting Expectations
At Streets Heaver, we’re committed to powering smarter, more responsive healthcare. As the private healthcare landscape evolves, so do patient expectations, with speed, access, and digital convenience now top priorities.
Market Momentum
The UK private healthcare market is on track to hit £7.5 billion by 2026, fuelled by the expansion of private facilities and services, partially due to increasing frustration with NHS delays. While the quality of NHS care remains respected, 62% are dissatisfied with waiting times, especially for GP access. As a result, more patients are turning to private care for faster, personalised treatment.
Despite perceptions, cost is becoming less of a barrier. 49% would cut back on holidays or dining out to afford private care, but 64% still wrongly believe it’s out of reach, highlighting a need for clearer messaging around affordability.
A Changing Audience
Private care is no longer just for older or wealthier patients. While the 50 to 64 age group still leads, uptake among 18 to 34-year-olds is growing fast, driven by employer PMI schemes and
long NHS waits. A Public First study found that 45% have already used private GP services, and 70% are open to using private healthcare in the future.
Yet, 72% still associate it with the very wealthy or large companies, reinforcing the importance of education and accessible options.
Clinical Trends and Mixed Models
Top clinical areas include orthopaedics, trauma, and physiotherapy, with strong ongoing demand for ophthalmology, especially in the South East. While PMI is growing steadily, self-pay appears to be levelling off. Patients are increasingly blending NHS and private care, using private for speed and convenience, and NHS for more serious interventions, though data on this behaviour remains limited.
Word of mouth remains a key referral channel, but verified platforms like PHIN, Doctify, and Mumsnet are playing a growing role in helping patients make informed choices.
The Role of AI
AI is becoming a powerful tool in private healthcare, streamlining admin tasks like booking and triage to free up clinicians for more patient-focused care. By reducing delays and improving efficiency, it directly enhances the patient experience.
Beyond admin, AI is helping providers use data to predict health risks, personalise treatments, and improve outcomes — especially in high-demand areas like orthopaedics and physiotherapy. It also brings consistency to diagnoses, addressing a common concern around varying practitioner opinions.
For patients, AI tools like chatbots and progress trackers make the care journey smoother, more accessible, and less intimidating. At Streets Heaver, we see AI not as a replacement for people, but as a way to deliver faster, safer, and more personalised care.
Going Digital, Staying Local
The digital-first mindset is now mainstream, especially for younger users who expect online booking, virtual consults, and app-based, non-verbal tools. But while convenience is key, local, trusted care still matters. Patients want proximity as much as speed.
An Event to Remember
It was once again a very successful year due to the great organisation set up by the LaingBuisson team and it was a privilege to be an Executive Sponsor of this event, also to be in the company of so many great healthcare professionals. We witnessed our Managing Director Benedict Heaver as a key speaker, sharing the stage with some incredible people from Bupa Health Services, Practice Plus Group, Vita Health Group, OS Clinic and Careology, giving us a great insight as to what the future holds for the ever-changing healthcare world and what is on the horizon.
At Streets Heaver, we’re proud to support providers adapting to these shifts with smarter systems, data-led insights, and a focus on delivering healthcare that’s fast, accessible, and patient-led. Also, sharing our knowledge on Compucare and promoting how important it is to the future of Private Healthcare. We’re excited to be at the heart of this evolution, helping providers grow, connect, and deliver outstanding care, every step of the way.
